Wednesday, October 5, 2016

IWSG & The Finish Line

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

And we’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

Question for October 5th: When do you know your story is ready?

Simple Answer: No clue!!!

Complex Answer:

I haven't published yet, so I really don't know when the story is ready. I'm a tinkerer and when I learn something new I want to apply it to the stories I've written.

Which means --> REWRITE!

And driving myself crazy. I think I have 6 (or more???) stories that have been written that have potential to be published. BUT, none of them are ready. Some are a lot closer than others, but none are THERE.

Will they ever be?

Some days I doubt it, but more and more, I think I'm getting much closer to answering YES!

How about you? Are you a tinkerer? Can you let a story be, or do you always want to dive back in?

It's a lot easier to tinker with a manuscript than to send it on to someone else who may judge it, whether that's the public, an agent, or a crit partner. Still, there comes a point where you just know it's time.

My stories need plenty of tinkering and I am willing to keep going back until I can't see the forest for the trees. Then it is time to hand it over to others for more expert and unbiased opinion. Editing and rewrites usually smooth out the rough edges. I'm not a perfectionist (or even close), so at some point I mark it 'ready'.

I rely heavily on feedback from other writers. Probably too, annoyingly much, actually. I think in the past I used to rush too quickly to finish a first draft and then wanted to be "done", but I've been slowly learning about what stories need to be "ready" or at least "readier" so now I don't rest until I FEEL like I've remedied all plot and character and story issues. Then I HAVE to have others read it. And right now that means (besides cps and beta readers) hiring people to really dig deep and steer me in the right direction. Christy

as someone who works in the publishing, my advice would be: check your story a hundred times before you send it to the publishers, make it a year, two, three longer... most of today's writers don't do it and we get crappy books

I'm afraid most of us could tinker with our stories for as long as someone would let us. There does come a time when you just have to take that leap. Whether that leads to publishing it, who knows? But it's a step closer. And it just might, too. You will get there! Your energy and passion is so refreshing.

I am a tinkerer too. So I can totally relate. Sometimes you do have to just decide it it done and that you have done your best- but I keep picking away and making changes for a long time. :) Wishing you the best!~Jess